We Like It Here

Snarky Puppys ninth album, 2014s We Like It Here, marked a turning point for the genre-bending fusion outfit. A year prior, they had taken home their first Grammy, sharing the award for Best R&B Performance with singer Lalah Hathaway for their collaborative song "Something" off Family Dinner, Vol. 1. Although they would not return to that songs soulful elan, We Like It Here nonetheless showcased the groups burgeoning sophistication. Recorded live in front of a studio audience at Kytopia Studios, Utrecht, Netherlands, the album finds bassist/bandleader Michael League shepherding the sonically expansive horn-, synth-, and strings-augmented ensemble through some of its most ambitious and thoughtfully arranged compositions to that point. Theres a growing passion for global traditions, as in the opening "Shofukan," with its potent evocation of Tuareg and Malian Saharan rock sounds. Similarly, on "Jambone" they blend the slick contemporary jazz horn harmonies with a kinetic Afro-beat groove. They also explore their classical leanings as on "Kite," where they frame daring post-bop improvisation against a moonlit, Baroque-sounding chamber string quartet. We also get the tidal wave jazz-rock tumult of "What About Me?" and "Outlier," both of which underscore the bands long-gestating Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report inclinations. They close in epic fashion with keyboardist Cory Henrys "Lingus," his chunky organ and synth riffs pushing the band into a masterfully controlled frenzy. [2025s We Like It Here (Remixed + Remastered + Reimagined) features a more robust sounding mix of the original tracks as well as a second disc of alternate takes.] ~ Matt Collar